American Business History Records
Business Manuscripts
Special Collections & Archives holds nearly 1,600 collections of original records that document the growth of American business and the development of business practice from the 17th century to the mid-20th century. They are an invaluable resource for the study of American commerce and industry and cover a broad range of business activities.
The collections include the records of companies and the papers of individual businesspeople. They reflect the evolution of American business from small-scale, local enterprises to large companies with global reach.
Strengths include the papers of colonial and early republican-era farmers, craftsmen, and merchants; the records of major manufacturing firms, especially textile companies that developed the factory system from the start of the Industrial Revolution to the mid-20th century; and the papers of individuals who were involved in building American financial, industrial, and transportation systems during the 19th and 20th centuries. Many collections shed light on the day-to-day experiences of people living during the era covered by the records.